Alves wants the boot

The Middlesbrough hitman opened his account for the season with a stunning free-kick against Stoke.

And he predicts that will be the first of many.

The Brazilian scored 45 goals in 39 games for Heerenveen in Holland and after a slow start at the Riverside, bagged another six last season.

Now he claims the floodgates are well and truly open. “I am setting my targets high and that goal against Stoke was just the start,” he said.

“I will be fighting to win the Golden Boot having just missed out in Holland.

“The only reason I didn’t win it was because UEFA doesn’t rank goals scored in the Eredivisie as highly as those scored in some other European leagues. But goals in England are worth more and that is why I feel I can snatch the prize this season.”

Boro boss Gareth Southgate who also has Mido, Tuncay and Jeremie Aliadiere battling it out with the Brazilian for places in attack, isn’t backing against Alves achieving his target.

“Alves has a striker’s instinct in front of goal and we will help him as much as we can to get as many as he can,” said Southgate.